# Holly Wainwright

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**Holly Wainwright** (born 20 December 1971)[1][2] is a British-Australian writer, author, podcast host, and since 2014, an editor of the *[Mamamia](/source/Mamamia_(website))* website.

She was born in [Manchester](/source/Manchester).[3][4] She came to Australia as a backpacker in 1995 and settled in [Sydney](/source/Sydney).[3] She lived in [Coogee](/source/Coogee,_New_South_Wales) for about 20 years.[3]

## Career

In Sydney, she worked as a journalist and then editor for travel and celebrity magazines.[4] Among other titles, she worked for *[Woman's Day](/source/Woman's_Day_(Australian_magazine))*.[5]

Wainwright was Deputy Editor for *[OK! Magazine](/source/OK!_Magazine)* before joining *Mamamia'*s parenting site *iVillage Australia* as Editor in 2013.[6] The following year, she was appointed Editor of the main *Mamamia* site itself.[6][5] She says that the motivation for her transition from print "gossip magazines" to digital (at a substantial pay cut) was driven by the traditional media becoming "meaner. Especially about women, their relationships and their bodies."[1]

In 2016, *Mamamia* split into two divisions — news and entertainment — with Wainwright appointed editor of the latter.[7] By 2018, she was Head of Content and was co-hosting *Mamamia'*s flagship podcast *Mamamia Out Loud* together with *Mamamia* founder [Mia Freedman](/source/Mia_Freedman) and Executive Editor [Jessie Stephens](/source/Jessie_Stephens).[4]

Wainwright has toured with her *Mamamia Out Loud* co-hosts as they present live shows in a similar format to the podcast to audiences around Australia.[8] They toured in 2018 (Tamworth, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Dubbo),[9] 2019 (Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide, Cairns, Orange, Geelong, Sydney),[10] 2022 (Orange, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne Sydney),[11] and 2024 (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney).[12][13] Wainwright has described the live shows as "absolutely one of the best professional experiences I’ve ever had."[8]

### Novels

Five of her novels have been published:

- *The Mummy Bloggers* ([Allen & Unwin](/source/Allen_%26_Unwin), 2017)[14]
- *How to be Perfect* (Allen & Unwin, 2018)[15]
- *I Give My Marriage a Year* ([Pan Australia](/source/Pan_Australia), 2020)[16]
- *The Couple Upstairs* (Pan Australia, 2022)[17]
- *He Would Never* (Pan Australia, 2025)[18]

Mia Freedman compared the style of her first novel to that of [Liane Moriarty](/source/Liane_Moriarty) and [Zoë Foster Blake](/source/Zo%C3%AB_Foster_Blake).[14] Alicia Franceschini in *[Glam Adelaide](/source/Glam_Adelaide)* wrote that although the book "does sometimes fall into the trap of painting an almost caricature of women’s experiences of motherhood, it never fails to do so with a light-hearted nature and a tongue in cheek self awareness that is rarely seen in modern literature for women."[19]

Writing for the *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*, reviewer Hannah Tunnicliffe praised *I Give My Marriage a Year* for its "back-story, humour, psychological insight and explanations that deepen your interest and attachment" to the characters depicted.[20] Rosalind Moran, reviewing the same book for *[ArtsHub](/source/ArtsHub)*, concluded "through investigating the personalities and relationships of her characters with a fine-tooth comb, Wainwright prompts the reader to consider their own life and relationships; how these might be fraying at the seams; and whether they might do better."[21]

*The Couple Upstairs* was listed at #24 on *[Better Reading](/source/Better_Reading)'*s list of the "Top 100 Books of 2023".[22] Dee Young in *[Brisbanista](/source/Brisbanista)* described it as "a novel that delves into the darker side of human nature, relationships, and where they lead. Is there a way of preventing another person from making similar mistakes to those made by oneself in the past? AND, is intervention an option or should one leave well alone?"[23] *[The Australian Women's Weekly](/source/The_Australian_Women's_Weekly)* called it "an important read."[24]

Wainwright's writer's festival appearances include:

- [Burdekin Readers and Writers Festival](/source/Burdekin_Readers_and_Writers_Festival) 2018[25]
- [Northern Beaches Readers Festival](/source/Northern_Beaches_Readers_Festival) 2022[26]
- [Brisbane Writers Festival](/source/Brisbane_Writers_Festival) 2023[27]
- [Cairns Tropical Writers Festival](/source/Cairns_Tropical_Writers_Festival) 2023[28]
- [StoryFest](/source/StoryFest) ([Shoalhaven](/source/Shoalhaven)) 2023[29]

## Personal life

Wainwright has a partner and two children.[3][4] In 2021, she and her family relocated to regional New South Wales,[30][31] which she describes as a "[treechange](/source/Treechange)".[31]

## References

1. Holly Wainwright (14 December 2021). ["HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: I'm about to turn 50. Here's a list of things I didn't expect to happen in my 40s."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/life-lessons-40s/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Holly Wainwright (14 December 2022). ["HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: 'I turned 50 and a year later I looked very different.'"](https://www.mamamia.com.au/holly-wainwright-fashion/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Monday's Local Mum Holly Wainwright"](https://easternsuburbsmums.com.au/mondays-local-mum-holly-wainwright/). *Eastern Suburbs Mums*. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Holly Wainwright: Journalist, Blogger, Author"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190226100500/http://burdekinreadersandwriters.org.au/2016-authors-2/holly-wainwright/). *Burdekin Readers and Writers Assoc Inc*. Archived from [the original](http://burdekinreadersandwriters.org.au/2016-authors-2/holly-wainwright/) on 2019-02-26.

1. Mamamia Team (16 September 2014). ["Open Post: Come meet our new Editor, Holly Wainwright."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/open-post-holly-wainwright/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Ward, Miranda (15 September 2014). ["iVillage editor Holly Wainwright moves to same role for Mamamia"](https://mumbrella.com.au/ivillage-editor-holly-wainwright-shifts-across-mamamia-251466). *[Mumbrella](/source/Mumbrella)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Ward, Miranda (4 August 2016). ["Mamamia completes brand migration under hero masthead with rebrand"](https://mumbrella.com.au/mamamia-brand-migration-hero-masthead-rebrand-385657). *[Mumbrella](/source/Mumbrella)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Hogan, Tamara (October 2019). ["What Women Want"](https://issuu.com/duomagazine/docs/duo_issue_155_september___october_2019/s/159851). *Duo*. No. 155. Ayr, Queensland: Burdekin Local News. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Mamamia Team (7 September 2022). ["Events"](https://www.facebook.com/groups/outlouders/events). *Facebook*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Upcoming Events"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190801032203/https://www.mamamia.com.au/events/). *Mamamia*. Archived from [the original](https://www.mamamia.com.au/events/) on 2019-08-01.

1. Mamamia Team (7 September 2022). ["Buy your ticket to the Mamamia Out Loud Live tour."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/mamamia-out-loud-live/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Mamamia Team (13 March 2024). ["Everything you need to know about our brand new live show."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/outloud/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Mamamia Out Loud LIVE"](https://www.outloudlive.com.au/). *Mamamia Out Loud LIVE*. Mamamia. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["The Mummy Bloggers"](https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/9781760528225). *Allen & Unwin: Book Publishers*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["How to be Perfect"](https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Holly-Wainwright-How-to-Be-Perfect-9781760633486). *Allen & Unwin: Book Publishers*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["I Give My Marriage a Year"](https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760985721/). *Macmillan: Pan Macmillan Australia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["The Couple Upstairs"](https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761266379/). *Macmillan: Pan Macmillan Australia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["He Would Never"](https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761264849/). *Macmillan: Pan Macmillan Australia*. Retrieved 26 July 2025.

1. Franceschini, Alicia (5 June 2018). ["BOOKS & LITERATUREBook Review: The Mummy Bloggers, by Holly Wainwright"](https://glamadelaide.com.au/book-review-the-mummy-bloggers-by-holly-wainwright/). *[Glam Adelaide](/source/Glam_Adelaide)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Tunnicliffe, Miranda (13 November 2020). ["I Give My Marriage A Year by Holly Wainwright"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/book-review-i-give-my-marriage-a-year-by-holly-wainright/7YMMDE6RLEB33KP6OWFKRYF6F4/). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Moran, Rosalind (6 October 2020). ["Book Review: I Give my Marriage a Year by Holly Wainwright"](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/book-review-i-give-my-marriage-a-year-by-holly-wainwright-261203-2368681/). *[ArtsHub](/source/ArtsHub)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Top 100 Books of 2023"](https://www.betterreading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Better-Reading-Top-100-of-2023-list-1.pdf). *Better Reading*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Young, Dee (3 December 2022). ["The Couple Upstairs by Holly Wainwright – Book Review"](https://brisbanista.com.au/the-couple-upstairs-by-holly-wainwright-book-review/). *[Brisbanista](/source/Brisbanista)*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["The Couple Upstairs, by Holly Wainwright, Pan Macmillan"](https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-australian-womens-weekly/20221006/284429922822080). *The Australian Women's Weekly*. Sydney: Are Media. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Ignite Your Mind"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180411075048/http://burdekinreadersandwriters.org.au/). *Burdekin Readers and Writers Assoc Inc*. Archived from [the original](http://burdekinreadersandwriters.org.au/) on 2018-04-11.

1. ["Northern Beaches Readers Festival - Program"](https://www.nbrf.com.au/program). *Northern Beaches Readers Festival*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Mother's Day High Tea: Holly Wainwright & Frances Whiting"](https://bwf.org.au/2023/brisbane-writers-festival/mothers-day-high-tea-1). *Brisbane Writers Festival*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Karyn King (9 January 2023). ["Holly Wainwright"](https://ctwf.com.au/events/holly-wainwright/). *Cairns Tropical Writers Festival*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. ["Storytellers"](https://www.storyfest.org.au/storytellers-2023). *StoryFest*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Holly Wainwright (6 October 2021). ["HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: It's been months since we moved our family to the country. Here's what we've learned."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/holly-wainwright-country/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

1. Holly Wainwright (28 June 2022). ["HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: My family 'tree-changed' one year ago. Here are 13 things we've learned."](https://www.mamamia.com.au/holly-wainwright-moving-to-the-country-australia/). *Mamamia*. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Holly Wainwright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Wainwright) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Wainwright?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.